Waste | Page 7

as by moonlight? Can't you see any

wrinkles?
TREBELL. One or two ... under the eyes. But they give character and
bring you nearer my age. Yes, Nature hit on the right curve in making
you.
She stretches herself, cat-like.
AMY O'CONNELL. Praise is the greatest of luxuries, isn't it, Henry? ...
Henry ... [she caresses the name.]
TREBELL. Quite right ... Henry.
AMY O'CONNELL. Henry ... Trebell.
TREBELL. Having formally taken possession of my name....
AMY O'CONNELL. I'll go to bed.
His eyes have never moved from her. Now she breaks the contact and
goes towards the door.
TREBELL. I wouldn't ... my spare time for love making is so limited.
She turns back, quite at ease, her eyes challenging him.
AMY O'CONNELL. That's the first offensive thing you've said.
TREBELL. Why offensive?
AMY O'CONNELL. I may flirt. Making love's another matter.
TREBELL. Sit down and explain the difference ... Mrs. O'Connell.
She sits down.
AMY O'CONNELL. Quite so. 'Mrs. O'Connell'. That's the difference.
TREBELL. [Provokingly.] But I doubt if I'm interested in the fact that

your husband doesn't understand you and that your marriage was a
mistake ... and how hard you find it to be strong.
AMY O'CONNELL. [Kindly.] I'm not quite a fool though you think so
on a three months' acquaintance. But tell me this ... what education
besides marriage does a woman get?
TREBELL. [His head lifting quickly.] Education....
AMY O'CONNELL. Don't be business-like.
TREBELL. I beg your pardon.
AMY O'CONNELL. Do you think the things you like to have taught in
schools are any use to one when one comes to deal with you?
TREBELL. [After a little scrutiny of her-face.] Well, if marriage is only
the means to an end ... what's the end? Not flirtation.
AMY O'CONNELL. [With an air of self-revelation.] I don't know. To
keep one's place in the world, I suppose, one's self-respect and a sense
of humour.
TREBELL. Is that difficult?
AMY O'CONNELL. To get what I want, without paying more than it's
worth to me....?
TREBELL. Never to be reckless.
AMY O'CONNELL. [With a side-glance.] One isn't so often tempted.
TREBELL. In fact ... to flirt with life generally. Now, what made your
husband marry you?
AMY O'CONNELL. [Dealing with the impertinence in her own
fashion.] What would make you marry me? Don't say: Nothing on
earth.

TREBELL. [Speaking apparently of someone else.] A prolonged fit of
idleness might make me marry ... a clever woman. But I've never been
idle for more than a week. And I've never met a clever woman ... worth
calling a woman.
AMY O'CONNELL. [Bringing their talk back to herself, and
fastidiously.] Justin has all the natural instincts.
TREBELL. He's Roman Catholic, isn't he?
AMY O'CONNELL. So am I ... by profession.
TREBELL. It's a poor religion unless you really believe in it.
AMY O'CONNELL. [Appealing to him.] If I were to live at Linaskea
and have as many children as God sent, I should manage to make Justin
pretty miserable! And what would be left of me at all I should like to
know?
TREBELL. So Justin lives at Linaskea alone?
AMY O'CONNELL. I'm told now there's a pretty housemaid ... [she
shrugs.]
TREBELL. Does he drink too?
AMY O'CONNELL. Oh, no. You'd like Justin, I daresay. He's clever.
The thirteenth century's what he knows about. He has done a book on
its statutes ... has been doing another.
TREBELL. And after an evening's hard work I find you here ready to
flirt with.
AMY O'CONNELL. What have you been working at?
TREBELL. A twentieth century statute perhaps. That's not any concern
of yours either.
She does not follow his thought.

AMY O'CONNELL. No, I prefer you in your unprofessional moments.
TREBELL. Real flattery. I didn't know I had any.
AMY O'CONNELL. That's why you should flirt with me ... Henry ... to
cultivate them. I'm afraid you lack imagination.
TREBELL. One must choose something to lack in this life.
AMY O'CONNELL. Not develop your nature to its utmost capacity.
TREBELL. And then?
AMY O'CONNELL. Well, if that's not an end in itself ... [With a touch
of romantic piety.] I suppose there's the hereafter.
TREBELL. [Grimly material.] What, more developing! I watch people
wasting time on themselves with amazement ... I refuse to look forward
to wasting eternity.
AMY O'CONNELL. [Shaking her head.] You are very self-satisfied.
TREBELL. Not more so than any machine that runs smoothly. And I
hope not self-conscious.
AMY O'CONNELL. [Rather attractively treating him as a child.] It
would do you good to fall really desperately in love with me ... to give
me the power to make you unhappy.
He suddenly becomes very definite.
TREBELL. At twenty-three I engaged myself to be married to a
charming and virtuous fool. I broke it off.
AMY O'CONNELL. Did she